Flushing apparatus



sept. 11, 1962 C. A. WITHAM FLUSI-IING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

CLARENCE A. WITHAM ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1962 c. A. wxTHAM FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIV INVENTOR. CLARENCE A. WITHAM ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1962 c. A. wlTHAM 3,052,892

FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed Ju1:,1 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

INVENTOR CLARENCE A. wlTHAM BY W. d. 7,4%

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,052,892 RUSHING APPARATUS Clarence A. Witham, 214 N. State St., Mishawaka, Ind. Filed July 25, 1960, Ser. No. 45,111 Claims. (Cl. 4-26) The present invention relates to ushing apparatus and more particularly to `an apparatus for storing and controlling the delivery of flush water.

Conventional flushing apparatus for toilets, urinals, and the like have several inherent disadvantages, one of the most difficult of these to cope with being the problem of noise, particularly the penetrating or shrill sounds produced by the slow closing of the water supply valve, which release a small stream `at a velocity, frequently resulting in a high, piercing Whistle. Also, vother noises such as rattles, singing caused by washers, and the like, are produced by the complex equipment used for iiushing. Therefore, one principal .object :of the present invention is to provide a `flushing apparatus `for a water closet which holds noises to a minimum sand particularly is not subject to valve whistle and similar penetrating sounds.

The pressure in rthe water supply lines to various fixtures in a building varies slightly as faucets are turned on and olf, toilets hushed, and other lixtures used. It sometimes also happens that the `water supply to a building or part of a building is cut oli completely because of a break -in a line, or some other emergency. Thus, it is `another principal object of the present invention to provide a flush mechanism which can be adjusted to iiush only when the rate of low of water into the bowl will be high enough tto create the proper siphon action in the trap.

Another disadvantage of conventional liushing -apparatus has been the difficulty o-f initially adjusting the apparatus properly or maintaining proper adjustment in service so that the rate of supply of water to the bowl of the water closet has often been too high or too low, resulting in a poor Siphon action, yielding a sluggish and uncertain Hush and/ or lan unclean bowl. It is therefore an additional object of the present invention to provide a Hush mechanism which cannot become unadjusted in service and which will consistently give a proper ushing action whenever it is operated.

A liush apparatus using a pneumatic flush tank has the advantage that it is more economical in the use of water than apparatus using a gravity tank and is much faster and quieter than :a gravity `tank because of the higher pressure on the Water and Athe completely enclosed parts. lt also has the advantage that it does no-t require a large supply pipe, as does an apparatus using no tank at all. However, in the past, pneumatic flush tanks have been difficult -to install in the home, particularly as replacements of existing equipment, and the complex valves used with these tanks have worn out quite rap-idly. Hence, an object of ythis invention is to provide a ush apparatus employing a neat appearing pneumatic tank which can be easily installed in a new home or in existing toilets with a minimum of eort yand/.or replacement of existing parts, and which will require a minimum of service thereafter. Still another object of the invention is to provide a 3,052,892 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 pneumatic ushing apparatus in which the pressure in the tank is equal to the highest pressure :occurring in the supply line subsequent to the most recent ushing.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the aforesaid type which is easy to build and install using readily available materials.

A further object is to provide a toilet liush apparatus which will render impossible back siphonage, or the backliow of water from the bowl to the ilushing tank and supply line.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will bec-ome apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional end View of one embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE, 2 is a cross sectional and partial front elevational view of another embodiment of my invention, showing the unit mounted in a pre-existing llush tank;

FIGURE 3 is 'an elevational and partial cross sectional end view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, the cross section being taken on line 3-3 `of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 .is 4a vertical cross sectional view of a ush valve used in my invention, showing it in the first stage of flushing;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the valve of FIGURE 4, showing it after a flush has been completed; and

FlGURE 6 is -a top elevational view of a portion of a lever used in the flush valve.

ln FIGURE 1, numeral -10 designates the pneumatic tank used in my invention, having front wall 12, back wall 14, top 16, bottom 18 and side walls 20, joined i11- tegrally to form an air-tight enclosure. Tank 10 is filled Awith water 21 -from a supply line 22, the line entering tank 10 at point 24 in bottom 18 and being connected to the building plumbing line 26 through a metering control Stl. The influx of lwater compresses the air 32 in the upper part of tank 10 and builds up pressure which, at the end yof the lling cycle, is equal to fthe pressure in lines 22 and 26. When the toilet is flushed, water is expelled from tank 10 through pipe 34, which is substantially larger than line 22, through passage 36 of flush valve 40, and into passage 42 of the toilet represented by portion 44 and connected to building partition 46.

Control 3u includes a body 50 having an access port 52 closed by plug 24. This control has two purposes, the first being to control the rate of flow of water through lines 22 and 26 into -the tank and the other being to prevent the flow of water in the other direction. A valve element 56, hinged to body 50 by pivot S8 regulates the ow of water through the control and is made of light construction so that any difference in pressures in lines 22 and 26 will be suflicient to move it. Thus, when the pressure in line 26 is higher than that in line 22 and tank 10, element 56 is forced away from seat 60 and water can liow through body 50 and line 22 into tank lo'. Adjustment screw 62 threadedly received in plug 54 is provided to limit the degree to which element 56 can open and thus is adapted to vary the rate of ow of water to satisfy requirements. However, if the pressure in line 26 should fall below that in the tank and line 22 for any reason, the diiference in pressure created will be sufcient to press element 56 against seat 60, closing the passage to the ow of water and preventing back flow of water into the supply line. The action of valve element 56 maintains the pressure in the tank at the highest point attained between ilushings, even if the rest of the buildings plumbing is completely drained, and provides one complete ushing of the water closet even in emergencies when the water is cut off.

Since element 56 is closed only when the pressure in line 22 is equal to or higher than that in line 26, and is completely Open at other times, there can be no whistle or other unpleasant sound as often created in conventional apparatus. If a whistle should ever appear, it can readily be eliminated by merely adjusting screw 62 Yto allow the element 56 to open `farther and provide a wider passage for thewater entering control 30.

One of the most important features of the present invention is a special type of ball 70 in ush valve 40 disposed between an upper Wall 72 and a lower wall 74, the two walls having axially aligned orices 76 and 78,'respectivey, therein and being mounted in passage 36 of VValve 40dened by valve body 80. The ball has a greater density than water and when the toilet is not being ushed, rests against seat 82 around the Vorifice 78 of wall 74, and thus closes passage 36 and prevents the flow of water into the toilet. In order to ush the toilet, it is necessary to lift ball 70 off seat 82 in order to allow Water to flow around the ball and through orifice 78 to the toilet. The ball is lifted by a stem 84 integrally connecting the ball and rod 86, acting longitudinally in hole 88 of bracket 90. Rod 86 is moved upward by a bifurcated lever 92, shown in FIGURE 6, pressing upward on collar 94 on rod 86, and integrally attached to sphere96 and rotated therewith. Sphere 96, resting 'in the cavity formed by cap 98 screwed or bolted onto seat 100 of body 80, is rotated by pressing on handle 102 extending from the side of the sphere opposite lever 92. As shown in FIGURE 4, lever 92 rises, presses against collar 94, and thus raises rod 86 and stem 84 to force ball 70 olf seat 82. After the ball has been lifted and the handle is released, spring 104 acting between bracket 90 and lever 92 forces the lever back into rest position, shown in FIGURE 1.

After lever 92 is returned to its rest position, the ball remains suspended in the passage with water flowing around it and passing into the toilet, the ball being held in suspension Vby theventuri action of the water flowing around the lball from restricted orifice 76 to the second restricted orifice 78. The ball cannot rise high enough to chatter against wall 72 or on the sides of body 80 in that collar 94 on rod 86 contacts bracket 9i) and prevents further upward travel of Vthe ball, and the rod in the bracket keeps the ball centered in .the body passage. For optimum operation of this valve, the ratio of the diameter of the ball to the diameter of passage 36 should be approximately 4:5, and the passage through body 80 of the valve must be arranged substantially vertically, as shown in the drawings, so that the force of gravity will tend to lforce ball 70Viirrnly against seat 82. With this arrangement, water willcontinue to flow from tank into 4the bowl of the toilet until the pressure in the tank `falls to the point at which the Water flow is not suflcient to hold the ball 70, stem 84 and rod 86 in suspension.

Y In the operation of the present apparatus, starting with tank 10' filled to the level shown in FIGURE l, handle 102 is pressed downwardly, lifting stern 84 and raising ball 70 from seat 82, thus permitting water to ilow rapidly through orice 76, around ball 70 and through orifice 718 and passage 36 into passage 42 of the water closet. When the handle is released, the venturi action holds ball 70 in suspended position between walls 72 and 74, as described previously. As water continues to ilow through passage 34 into the toilet, the pressure in tank 10 decreases below the pressure in supply line 26, permitting water to ow into the tank through line 22; however, since line 22 is much smaller than pipe '34, the additional water in the tank will not materially affect the ilush. As the pressure in tank 10 continues to fall, the flow of water into pipe 34 and thus through orice 76 is reduced, eventually reaching the point at which ball 70 is no longer supported. The ball then drops onto seat '82, as shown in FIGURE 5, completely stopping the flushing action and allowing the flow of water into the tank from line 22 to fill the tank again.

The exact minimum pressure in the tank necessary to continue the flush is governed by the sizes of orices 76 and 78, which control the venturi pressure, `and by the size and density of ball 70. Therefore, it is possible to select the desired minimum pressure required to operate the apparatus by varying one or more of these. Because of this fact', it is possible to assure a sufficient rate of vilow of water for a proper Siphon action in the trap of the Water closet regardless of the pressure normally maintained in the building plumbing, `simply by varying these elements of valve 40. Y

One of the advantages of the present heavier than water ball Valve is the relatively simple over-all valve construction and the elimination of `any possible back suction of water into the water supply line.

The present llushing apparatus can be readily adapted and arranged to replace pre-existing gravity tank ilushing equipment. The present ushing apparatus requires a reduced amount of water for a ush` and employs a tank somewhat smaller than the conventional gravity tank 110. With the exemplary arrangement shown in FIGURES 2 land 3, the basic features of the apparatus are essentially unchanged, and include tank '10, supply line 22 and metering control 3? (not shown) and ilush valve 40 with ball 7i), orifices 76 and 73, stem 84, and passage 36. However, the flush valve shown here eliminates pipe 34 and connects directly into tank 10, and connects to the existing line from the gravity tank to the toilet. As in the previous embodiment, lever 92 is connected to sphere 96 to move and lift stem 84 as the sphere rotates. However, the sphere is rotated by the rotation about its longitudinal axis of rod 120 extending through a hole 122 in cap 124 and seat 126 of body 128 of valve 40 at right angles to the line `of lever 92. 120 is rotated by lever 130vusing rod 120 as a pivot,

' and lever 130 is moved by fbar 132, connected to lever 130 at pivot 134. Bar 132 is connected to lever 136 at pivot 138, and this lever is rotated by the rotation of rod 140 from handle 142. When the handle 142 `is pressed downwardly, lever 136Vrotates to the left, Inov-V ing bar i132 to the left `as seen in FIGURE 2, and rotating lever 130 and rod 120. The rotation of rod 120 rotates sphere 96, lifting stem 84 and actuating the valve in the previously described manner.

In this connection, the complex mechanism, floating balls, and a number of pipes, of previous toilet flushing Y equipment are eliminated. The greater savings in Water justiles the installation of this apparatus both in new buildings, and in old buildings as a replacement of the old apparatus. Further, this Valve may be used for other purposes in addition to those specifically described hereg in.

Although only two embodiments of my invention have been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications Imay. be made without departing from vthe scope of the invention.

I claim:

l, An apparatus for usbing toilets, comprising walls forming a completely enclosed tank, -a water inlet conduit extending through the bottom wall of the tank, an i171-V Rod tically disposed section therein and being adapted to be connected to a toilet for delivering water thereto, an upper wall in said Section having a centrally located orice therethrough, a lower wall in said section spaced from said upper wall and having a centrally located orice therethrough in axial alignment with said rst mentioned orifice, a ball of greater density than water and of a diameter only slightly smaller than the diameter of said section disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the oriiice therein, a stem extending downwardly from said ball and through the oriiice in said lower wall, a collar on said stem, Ia handle extending through the wall of said second mentioned conduit and engaging said collar for moving said stem vertically in the orice in said lower wall to lift said ball from said lower wall, a bracket in said section below said lower wall serving as a stop for said collar and limiting the upward movement of said lball, and a spring means for moving said handle downwardly to permit said ball to seat on said lower wall and close the oriiice therein.

2. An apparatus for iushing toilets and like xtures, comprising walls forming a completely enclosed chamber, a water inlet conduit communicating with the bottom of said chamber, an inlet control means in said inlet conduit having a valve openable by the flow of water to the chamber and closable by the ow of water from the chamber and an adjustment means for limiting the extent to which said valve will open, a water outlet conduit of a diameter substantially larger than said inlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein and connected to a iixture for delivering water thereto, an upper wall in said section having an orifice therethrough, a lower wall in said section spaced from said upper wall and having a centrally located oriiice therethrough, in axial alignment with said iirst mentioned orifice, a ball of greater density than water yand of a diameter only slightly smaller than the diameter of said section disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the oriiice therein, a stem extending downwardly ifrom said ball and through the orifice in said lower wall, a collar on said stem, a handle extending through the wall of said second mentioned conduit and adapted to engage said collar for moving said stem vertically in the oriiice in said lower wall to lift said ball from said lower wall.

3. An apparatus for ushing toilets and similar tixtures, comprising a completely enclosed tank, a water inlet conduit connected to the `bottom portion of the tank, an inlet control means in said inlet conduit having a valve openable by the ow of water to the tank and closable by the flow of water from the tank and an adjustment means =for limiting the extent to which said valve will open, a water outlet conduit of a diameter substantially larger than said inlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein and being adapted to `be connected to a iixture for delivering water thereto, an upper wall in said section having a centrally located orice therethrough, a lower wall in said section spaced from said upper wall and having a centrally located oriiice therethrough in axial alignment with said first mentioned orice, a ball of greater density than water disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the orifice therein, a stem extending vertically `downwardly `from said ball and through the orifice in said lower wall, a means engaging said stern for moving said stem vertically in the orifice in said lower wall to lift said ball from said lower wall, and a resilient means for moving said stem engaging means downwardly to permit said ball to seat on said lower wall and close the orice therein.

4. An apparatus for flushing toilets and like xtures comprising a completely enclosed tank, a water inlet conduit connected to the bottom portion of the tank, an inlet control means 4in said inlet conduit having a valve openable by the iiow of water to the tank and closable by the flow of water from the tank, a water outlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein and being adapted to be connected to a fixture, an upper wall in said section having an orice therethrough, a lower wall in said section having a centrally located orice therethrough, a ball of greater density than water disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the oriiice therein, a stem extending vertically in said section and through the orifice in said lower wall, and a linkage including `a one-way connection for moving said stem vertically in the oriiice in said lower wall to lift said ball from said lower wall.

5. An apparatus for iiushing toilets and like xtures, comprising a completely enclosed tank, a water inlet conduit connected to the bottom portion of the tank, a water outlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein for delivering water to the xture, an upper wall in said section having a centrally located orifice therethrough, a lower wall in said section spaced from said upper wall and having a centrally located oritice therethrough in axial alignment with said rst mentioned orice, a ball of greater density than water disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the oriiice therein, a stem extending through one of said orices and being connected to said ball, and a means for moving said stem to lift said ball from said lower wall.

6. An apparatus for flushing toilets and similar xtures, comprising a completely enclosed tankJ a water inlet conduit connected to the bottom portion of the tank, an inlet control means in said inlet conduit, a water outlet conduit of a diameter substantially larger than said inlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein, an upper wall in said section having an oriiice therethrough, a lower wall in said section having a centrally located orifice therethrough, in axial alignment with said iirst mentioned oriiice and a ball of greater density than water disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the oriiice therein.

7. An apparatus for flushing toilets and like fixtures, comprising a tank, a water inlet conduit, a water outlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein, an upper wall in said section having an orice therethrough, a lower wall in said section having an orifice therethrough, in axial alignment with said iirst mentioned orice a ball of greater density than water disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the orice therein, and a -means for lifting said ball from said lower wall.

8. An apparatus for ushing toilets and like xtures, comprising walls forming a completely enclosed chamber, a water inlet conduit extending through the bottom wall of the chamber, a water outlet conduit of a diameter substantially larger than said inlet conduit having a vertically disposed section therein for delivering water to fthe fixture, an upper wall in said section having a centrally 1ocated orice therethrough, a lower wall in said section spaced from said upper wall and having a centrally located oriiice therethrough in axial alignment with said iirst mentioned oriiice, a ball of greater density than water and of a diameter only slightly smaller than the diameter of said section disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the orifice therein, and a means for lifting said ball from said lower wall.

9. A iiush valve construction for controlling the ilow of iluid, comprising a vertical conduit section, an upper wall in said section having a centrally located oriiice therethrough, a lower wall in said section spaced from said upper wall and having a centrally located oriiice therethrough in axial alignment with said iirst mentioned oriiice, a ball of greater density than iluid and of a diameter only slightly smaller than the diameter of said section disposed between the walls in said section and adapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the orice therein, a stem a vertical onduit section, an upper wall in said section 10 having an orifice therethrough, a lower wall in said section having a-centrally located oriiice therethrough, a

ball-of greater density than the fluiddisposed between the walls in said section-andadapted to seat on said lower wall and to close the orifice therein, and a means includ-V ing a one-way operating connection with said ball for lift- 5 ing said ball from said lower wall.

v References Cited in the filel of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,525 Spencer Oct. 5, 1915 2,055,271 Vuagnat Sept. 22, 1936 2,629,878 DeWitt Mal'. 3, 1953 

